Doug Trussler

Doug Trussler is an investment manager. He co-founded an investment firm in Santa Monica that he says has partnered with over 45 businesses, particularly in healthcare and renewable energy. Trussler centers his campaign on restoring the city’s finances, citing a 2026 budget that projects $477 million in revenue against $512 million in spending, a deficit of more than $35 million. He says that within his first six months he will work to give the city a long-term budget and cash-flow forecast, and that he will push for budget reporting with clear benchmarks.^{1, 2, 3, 4}

He supports building significantly more housing concentrated downtown and along commercial corridors, while protecting existing rent-controlled tenants.⁴ His campaign says he has specific strategies for recycling rent-controlled units and creating community-based financing for affordable housing.⁴